Liquid-dispensing apparatus.



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A. DADE.

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1913.

1,088,261. Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

E0 as Qwuamtoz w vt'naaoeo S D Q Q ALBERT DADE, OF FRANKFURT, NEW YORK.

LIQUID-DISPENSING APPARATUS.

Original application filed May 21, 1912, Serial No. 698,695.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

Divided and this application filed March 12,

1913. Serial No. 753,807.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT DADE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Frankfort, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid-Dispensing Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to liquid dispensing apparatus, and is a division of my applica tion Serial No. 698,695, filed May 21, 1912.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved beverage-dispensing apparatus, associated with an airtight cask or container, for forcing the beverage from the container by air pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide for aerating the beverage both before drawing the beverage from the container and during said operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which may be quickly and easily knocked down or dismembered, for transportation and stora e.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of this character which is simple. of construction and operation, easy to manipulate, and thoroughly practical and efficient in operation.

Other objects and advantages may be recited hereinafter and in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which supplement this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a container associated with the device which constitutes my invention, the latter being shown in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the pump and its adjuncts, and, Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the draft tube and the valve member associated therewith.

In these drawings, in which similar reference characters correspond with similar parts throughout the several views, the elements which are shown in section above the cask 5 in Fig. 1 form no part of the present invention,'but the invention consists essentially of the said draft tube 6, the downwardly tapered and centrally apertured plug 7, the coil 8, the air pump 9, the air pipe 10, the valve 11, the connection 12, and

faucet 13. In the connection 12 is formed the upper liquid duct 14.- and the upper air duct 15, the said connection 12, at 16 for engagement with the pump 9, and at 17 1S and 19 for engagement with the pipes 10 and 8 and the faucet 13, respectively. The plug 7 is in screw threaded engagement with av hollow nipple 20, which latter is connected to the lower end of the air pipe 10 by means of a coupling member 21. A flexible valve 11 is secured on the inner end of the nipple 20 and projects into the draft tube 6 through the aperture 6*, in the wall of the said draft tube. The valve is split at 22, and is preferably made of rubber, so that air may pass from the nipple through saidvalve into the draft tube 6, but fluid is prevented from returning through the valve 11 by means of its peculiar construction which causes it to close when pressure is applied on the convex surface thereof.

The elements 6, 11, 2O, 10 and 15 constitute a continuous air passage from the pump 9 to the cask 5, while the elements 6, 8, 8, 14: and 13 constitute a continuous fluid passage from the cask to the outer air; and so, itwill be seen that the draft tube 6 is alternately employed as an air duct and as a liquid duct. Ice or other cooling substance may be packed around the coil 8 for cooling the beverage while it is being dispensed.

The pump 9 may be of any proper and desirable form or kind for forcing air through the air passage into the cask. The plug 7 may be forced into the bung hole of the cask and rendered air tight therein by any suitable means, while the draft tube 6 may be snugly fitted through the central aperture of the plug 7, and any suitable packing 23 may be held in place by a nut 24: for providing an air-tight joint between the plug 7 and tube 6.

In practice, this apparatus may be employed for dispensing beer, cider, wine, or other beverages, but it is more particularly designed for such beverages as require to be aerated, or which are improved by aeration while being dispensed.

In operation, the faucet 13 remains closed and air-tight at all times except when the beverage is being drawn therethrough, so that when the pump 9 is operated, it forces air down through the air passage (described) into the cask, through the opening 25, and the air, being lighter than the liquid, rises to the surface of the liquid in the top of the cask, and as more air is pumped into the cask, it becomes sufliciently compressed above the surface of the liquid to force said liquid or beverage through the liquid passage when the faucet is opened. Now, it will be seen that as the air passes up through the liquid from the opening 25, it aerates the liquid to a certain extent, and when certain liquids are being dispensed, a foam is formed upon the surface of the liquid, but this foam does not pass out through the liquid duct until the cask becomes nearly empty.

Now, it is well known that certain liquids are not considered desirable unless they are accompanied by a considerable amount of foam when drawn, and in order to create such foam, even when the cask is approximately full, the pump may be operated while the faucet 13 is open, so that the air enters the tube 6 While the liquid is passing upward therethrough, and mixes with the liquid as it passes through the coil, so that foam is formed while the liquid is being dispensed. The amount of foam may be varied according to the amount of pumping that is donewhile the liquid is being drawn, and in some instances, it may be sufficient to operate the pump slightly and only just beforethe glass or other receiving vessel is filled.

It will be seen that I have provided a liquid dispenser of this character which is fully capable of attaining the foregoing objects in a thoroughly practical and eflicient manner.

I do not limit my invention to the exact details of construction, combination and arrangements of parts as herewith illustrated and described, but my invention may only be limited by a reasonable interpretation of the claims.

I claim:

1. In aliquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a container having a bung hole therein, of a plug adapted to be fitted co of this patent ma be obtalned'tor into the bung hole, a draft tube extending through the plug into proximity with the bottom of the container, a pump, an air pipe communicating with the pump and with the draft tube, a check valve for preventing fluid from passing from the draft tube to said air pipe, and a faucet communicating with the draft tube exteriorly of the container.

2. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a liquid container, a draft tube extending into the container for drawing liquid from the container, means for establishing and interrupting the flow of liquid through the draft tube, an air pipe communicating with the draft tube, and means for forcing air through the air pipe and through a portion of the draft tubeinto the container and thereby creating air pressure on the liquid for forcing it through the draft tube past the air pipe while air is being forced through the air pipe into the liquid duct, so as to aerate the liquid while it is being dispensed.

3. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a liquid container, a draft tube extending into the container and having means associated therewith for establishing and interrupting the flow of liquid therethrough, an air pipe communicating with the draft tube, and means for forcing air through the air pipe and through a portion of the draft tube into the container while the flow of liquid is interrupted, for creating air pressure in the container and thereby forcing liquid through the draft tube past the air pipe when the flow of liquid is uninterrupted and for forcing air into the draft tube, so that air and liquid are caused to mix within the draft tube while the liquid is being dispensed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT DADE.

Witnesses:

FRANK DURANT, JOHN HINGER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent, Washington, D. 0. 

